P171-M cultural hub to rise in Kalinga capital

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Work has begun on a P171-million cultural hub at the provincial capitol after the groundbreaking of the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum and a 500-seat theater, a twin development dreamt to anchor the Kalinga province’s heritage preservation drive.

The P98.39-million museum and cultural center, authorized under Republic Act No. 11770, will house Kalinga’s traditional music, literature, language, history and indigenous practices.

Plans show the ground floor dedicated to galleries featuring beads and pottery, warrior artifacts, weaving traditions, and archaeological and geological collections.

The second floor will spotlight music and dance, batok or traditional tattooing, visual arts, and offices including that of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Kalinga Rep. Caroline B. Agyao said the facility is envisioned as a living classroom rather than a mere exhibition space. In her message at the groundbreaking rites delivered by former Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang, she said the center would provide a venue for elders to pass on indigenous knowledge and for young iKalingas to reconnect with their roots.

Governor James S. Edduba described the project as a statement of identity and pride. Speaking through Provincial Legal Officer John Paul Baguiwan, he said, the structure affirms Kalinga’s commitment to honoring its past while preparing for the future.

Complementing the museum is the P73.5-million first phase of the theater, designed to host up to 500 people for cultural performances and major gatherings.

Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, both projects are slated for completion by August 2027 under the Department of Public Works and Highways-Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office, with District Engineer Ruby A. Uyam pledging strict supervision and transparency in the use of public funds. — Artemio A. Dumlao